Letters To The Editor

SCHOOLS AND EDUCATION

Whose god in the schoolroom?

Dee Lawless’ Feb. 26 letter (“Socialist plot behind public schools”) has as its thesis that problems of public education could be solved by putting God in the classroom. Lawless implies by a quote that this god be a Christian god. There are some real problems - both historical and practical - with putting God into the public classroom.

Many of the first European settlers came to the shores of colonial America because of religious persecution in their native lands. Usually, each group settled in specific places, i.e. Quakers in Pennsylvania, Roman Catholics in Maryland, Puritans in New England, etc. Too, there were many Jews in colonial America. Because the United States was to be all-inclusive, the founding fathers, in composing the documents by which we still govern ourselves, wisely chose to keep government independent of religion.

As a very practical matter, whom do we get to teach in the public schools? What background does this prospective teacher have? What faith does he or she profess - if any? What does this teacher do with students whose faith does not accept the Judeo-Christian God? I have recently read that the fastest- growing religion in America is Islam. Where does the atheist child go when God comes to class? N. Duncan Ormsby Spokane

District should lose the kid gloves

I am a student at one of this city’s best middle schools. We have a fleet of dedicated teachers and staff, But we, too, have our minor share of problems.

Recently, a student set a trash can full of used paper towels on fire in the bathroom. Luckily, nobody was hurt and the building didn’t catch on fire. I’m relatively certain that the scenario wasn’t that a student was smoking in the bathroom and threw the cigarette in the trash can, thereby igniting a fire. That’s because I’ve never smelled smoke in that bathroom, and the administrators are treating it as arson.

The fact that there was a fire in the building does not bother me as much as the fact that we can prevent misbehaving students from acting out. If I could make a list of 10 kids, there’s a 90 percent chance that one of them would be the kid who lit the fire. That’s unfortunate, because it shows that one of the few repeat misfits has been kept in our school one day too long.

The district policy is too light on troublemakers. Members of this select group of kids get one- to five-day suspensions (also known as one- to five-day vacations) for doing some of the most disgusting, irrational acts you’ve ever heard of. The district is too lenient when enforcing discipline. Expulsion, for some kids, is the only option.

School is a place for learning and disruptions should not be tolerated. Daniel L. Suess Spokane

Teachers work hard for modest pay

Re: the March 6 letter,“Teachers’ pay not so paltry.”

I agree that most teachers go into teaching not for the money but for the joy in a job they love. My mother is a teacher with District 81 and the pay for a first-year teacher during 1997-1998 was $22,950. That’s an $11,000 difference in pay from what Rachel Bell (Letters, March 1) stated.

I know that my mom works hard for that money because she spends many nights correcting papers and creating interesting work for her students. Melani Cunningham Spokane

Music event generated pride

Recently, the Eastern Washington Music Educator’s Association sponsored their annual Solo and Ensemble Festival at Chase Middle School. This popular musical event attracted almost 1,200 instrumental and vocal musicians (grades 5-9) from throughout Eastern Washington. The music began at 8 a.m. and ended at 5 p.m.

As I wandered from room to room, it was quite evident that something special was happening. After many hours of practicing, these musicians came prepared to “put it all on the line” in front of a small audience and adjudicator. Personal pride was obvious, not only in the way they performed, but in the way they dressed. This was a very important event to most of them.

Throughout the day, I noticed an occasional tear of joy from knowing that they had done their best, while others shed tears for a performance that, in the performer’s eyes, wasn’t quite up to par. However, I sensed that each musician went away with the feeling that they had conquered what seemed to be an insurmountable task just weeks before.

From an organizational standpoint, the 1999 EWMEA Solo and Ensemble Festival was one of the smoothest running activities I’ve ever attended. With the on-site leadership of Jane Bateham (director of bands) and Carrie Druffel (director of choirs), the entire Chase Middle School community came together to assist EWMEA in every aspect of this major event. Thank you to Principal John Andes and the CMS administration and staff for allowing us to use your beautiful facility. And a big thanks to the parent and student volunteers for a job well done. You were truly a class act! James S. Loucks, president Eastern Washington Music Educator’s Association, Spokane

PEOPLE IN SOCIETY

Now, who is being bigoted?

Bonnie Shannon’s Feb. 26 letter seems to say that those who do not agree with her interpretation of the Bible are calling God a bigot. There are sincere Christians and competent biblical scholars whose conclusion about homosexuality differs from hers when reading the same Bible. If she insists on asserting that her view is the only possible correct one, she would seem to fit her own definition of a bigot.

Shannon goes on to say that her stand is based on history, the laws of nature and divine revelation. What history proves I’m not sure, other than that we have been wrong about a lot of things that were thought to have been specified by the Bible. That the laws of nature prove homosexuality is a choice, and therefore an aberrant behavior, has not really been established. If divine revelation comes to us from reading the Bible, many of us have read it and disagree with her interpretation. If she gets private revelations directly, than she ought not hold blindly and intolerantly to that opinion but instead follow the advice of Isaiah 1:18. Carl W. Milton Spokane

Killing bearer of bad news is no help

A new trend is developing among the media-reading public, one that appears to be some form of kill the messenger. People don’t like the Kaiser strike, the field burning, Jane Doe 5, House Republicans, Marilyn Manson, white supremacists, capital punishment, independent counsels, elected representatives, church and state for telling them about people (always the other guy) that they do not want to know exist in this world.

The Rev. Billy Graham used to say in his sermons to those who asked him, “Why doesn’t God do something about this?” “God is doing something,” Graham smiled, “He told you about it.” It’s up to us if we act upon the news.

Eliminating the messengers of society’s ills is nothing new, but they only try to report what they see and hear.

I used to tell my daughter there is only one thing worse than ignorance and that is knowing it and then not doing anything to correct it. Reporters help us know what is happening.

Don’t blame the messenger, be one - a better voice, a fair voice and an ethical one. There are a lot of good people quietly going about their business in this world too. Join a labor union, anti-racist organization, teen counseling center, food bank, etc., and actually do something. Vote. Join.

Oscar Wilde used to say there is only one thing worse than being talked about and that is not being talked about. Let’s hear about what you are doing. Cinda L. Smaagaard Spokane

INFLUENCE

Manson show garbage - why wallow?

I was appalled at the Marilyn Manson article and its graphic content describing the artists and their performances. It was bad enough that so many people attended the concert, but your article vividly described the most offensive and disgusting displays of the night for everyone to read about.

I am very open minded about music, but there is a limit, and Manson is way over the edge. The writer’s statement about choosing to let go and have fun instead of being repulsed by what were, by her own admission, grotesque sights that were assaulting her eyes was absurd. You might as well say that Satan worship is all right as long as you have fun and are entertained.

To enjoy the Manson concert, the writer had to ignore everything in her telling her that what she was seeing was a total degradation of man, a sick, twisted display, and the destruction of moral values held dear in America for centuries. Manson stands against everything that has made this country great.

Contrary to the author’s rationalization that the show was entertaining, Manson is not fun, not acceptable and certainly not worth listening to. I am severely disappointed in the writer and your choice to print her article. Natalie A. Miller, age 17 Newport, Wash.

Double standard gives satanism slack

On Feb 28, Marilyn Manson ascended from the pit of hell to perform a “concert” in Spokane for those who, like him, believe that evil is fun.

In the March 2 review of the event, columnist Winda Benedetti recounts how Manson shred a Bible on stage during the singing of “Antichrist Superstar,” to the obvious delight of the crowd. She then goes on to describe this and other gruesome acts as “giddy good fun.”

As a Christian, I obviously dislike anything that glorifies satanic activity. However, I am appalled at the hypocrisy in the way The Spokesman-Review covered this event. I would imagine that if a pastor stood on stage during a religious event and tore up a picture of Marilyn Manson, Madonna or even our president, he would be instantly labeled as a right-wing intolerant radical Christian by the same newspaper.

I am also curious as to why Manson is not facing charges for engaging in a hate crime against Christians, especially since the city politicians recently passed an ordinance to protect the civil rights of all classes of people. Interestingly, when it is Christian values or beliefs that are being targeted, the media and politicians are silent.

It says in the Bible that in the last days, what is good will be called evil and what is evil will be called good. It makes you wonder. Bill Dehler Davenport, Wash.

Conservatives have rights, too

I read with interest the letters expressing disdain for those protesting the Marilyn Manson concert. The traditional standard basis being the First Amendment’s guaranteed freedom of speech.

Indeed, energies are oftentimes wasted when people engage in shouting matches to demonstrate their concern. But at the same time, I notice that the same people who are determined to protect Manson’s right to free speech, or that of any other controversial figure or group, in the same breath try to deny that same freedom to those who want to voice their opinions.

I have no problem with controversial viewpoints receiving protection from the Constitution, but to deny those same rights to the more conservative members of the public who wish to also voice their opinions seems like a double standard to me. It’s OK for atheists to declare their beliefs or nonbeliefs. But if a Christian, Jew or Moslem wishes to express their personal views, no matter how tame or fanatical they might come across, immediately, the battle cry goes up with the banner, separation of church and state.

If the freedom of speech is going to remain valid and potent, then it has to apply with equal portion to everyone, not just those who are controversial and opposed to the accepted norm or standard of conservative society. We who are devoted to religious beliefs, traditional family values and ethics in the work place have as much right to voice our opinions and thoughts as do those who proclaim themselves to be an anti-Christ. Elmer C. Jorgensen Cheney

GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS

I am ashamed of my country

This is the first time in my almost 65 years that I am embarrassed to be an American.

I have always been a vigorous flag waver; always proud that as a nation we were a bit young, naive, but generous and honorable. A noble example, a nation of laws. But no more.

We need some new political leaders - leaders with honor, courage, a sense of direction. Perhaps we should return to part-time senators and representatives making laws for three months and making a living for nine months. This would give them a dose of reality, a sense of balance, accountability, more in tune with the ramifications of their votes and actions. We need leaders who demonstrate these classical traits.

Politicians confound me. I find them directionless, convictionless, spineless wimps. These are qualities that they are showing Americans. Who are they afraid of? We are surely the joke of the world.

Now, when it is time to vote again, I will be faced with a terrible choice. The incumbents are just too weak. Marlene Wogsland Hayden Lake, Idaho

Republicans into pogroms, not politics

We hear all the cries for campaign finance reform because politicians are continually finding ways to circumvent the existing law. The Independent Counsel Act is being abused, as was predicted. Democrats we elected to office are being investigated using an unlimited amount of our tax dollars.

I am absolutely appalled by the abuse of our legal system motivated by neoconservative (fascist) Republican politicians’ quest for power. They fail to garner support for their hidden agenda through the electoral process, even through lies such as “no new taxes.” However, this is still the Republicans’ favorite theme to piggy-back on, next to the obvious oxymoron “smaller government,” as we continue to pay some of the lowest taxes in the world.

The Republican Party has no real issues to campaign on because it can’t win elections by divulging Republicans’ true motives. Instead, they have resorted to using our tax dollars to launch multi-million dollar investigations to smear their opponents.

Campaign finance abuse is only one abuse being perpetrated against American citizens by big business and commerce that now own our government. N.G. Hannon Spokane

Buchanan nobody’s Mr. Republican

We recently learned that Pat Buchanan is again going to run for president. This is bad news for Republicans, as this man pays no heed to Ronald Reagan’s declaration that the 11th commandment is that no Republican should speak ill of another Republican. He did a concentrated hatchet job on George Bush in the last election. Clearly, his tainting of one of our finest presidents aided the election of Bill Clinton. Recently, on CNN, a pundit remarked that Democrats like him and will contribute to his campaign.

Buchanan presents a model of what a proper Republican should be, shutting out most of the folks who turned to Reagan from all points of view, including many Democrats. The Republican Party needs to go back to the imperative of smaller bureaucracy in Washington directing all aspects of our lives and stress the need to elect candidates of honesty and integrity. When they go to the extent of ruling out all who don’t pass the litmus test Buchanan will soon espouse, the moderate majority will reluctantly flock to a third party.

Today, Republicans are generally perceived as narrow-minded bigots imposing their beliefs upon others. This sanctimoniousness is off-putting to most people - nobody likes to be told what to think. With the wrong perception by the electorate, the party will lose the next election to the Democrats, who are determined to take over Congress again for another 40 years. Audrey Sydell Otis Orchards

HEALTH CARE

VNA affiliation misstated

Re: The March 2 story that stated that the Visiting Nurse Association is part of the Dominican Network. I would like to correct this misinformation.

For 55 years, the Spokane Visiting Nurse Association was a community-owned nonprofit agency. Two years ago, the VNA board of directors felt it was time to join a system with shared values so that VNA’s charitable mission would survive anticipated funding cuts. On March 1, 1997, VNA became a Providence-sponsored organization and VNA is part of the newly formed Providence Services Eastern Washington. VNA works closely with the three Spokane-area PSEW hospitals: Sacred Heart, Holy Family and Deer Park.

As anticipated, the past two years have been difficult for the home care industry. Medicare reimbursement were cut 15 percent at the same time extensive, expensive new regulations took effect. Congress’ across-the-board cuts penalized the most efficient and responsible agencies, such as the Spokane VNA, whose utilization is one of the lowest in the country.

Approximately 15 percent of home health agencies nationwide closed or stopped serving Medicare patients in 1998. Spokane VNA continues to serve the community, providing charitable home health care to all who need our services but cannot pay. VNA’s future ability to serve the community and to continue our charitable mission is in large part due to our affiliation with Providence Services. Sheila L. Masteller, president & CEO Spokane Visiting Nurse Association